From its conception in the 1970s and throughout the 1980s, hip hop has been an autonomous entity within the community that created it. This means that all parameters set for the expression came from within the community and that it was intended for consumption by the community. Today's audiences come from outside the community and don't share the same experiences that drive the music. An artist's success depends on the satisfaction of consumers, not the community. In today's world, it's not about music that rings true for those who share the artists' experiences, but rather music that provides a dramatic illusion for those who will never share the experiences conveyed. This has fundamentally changed the creative process of artists and the diversity of music available. In particular, he questioned the future of hip hop. In Total Chaos, Jeff Chang references Harry Allen, a hip hop critic and self-proclaimed hip hop activist. Harry Allen compares the hip hop movement to the Big Bang and asks this complex question: “whether hip-hop is, in fact, a closed universe, destined to collapse, ultimately, in a fireball similar to its birth – or an open universe, destined to expand forever, until it is cold, dark and dead” (9). An often heard phrase, "hip hop is dead", refers to the high presence of gangster rap in mainstream hip hop. Today's hip hop regularly features young black men posing as rich thugs and indulging in expensive goods. The “hip hop is dead” perspective is based on the belief that hip hop was destined to become the model of youth resistance and social change. However, his political ambitions have yet to emerge, thus giving rise to criticism of hip hop. This essay will examine the past and present of hip hop in o......middle of paper......where expansion never ends, but all vitality is lost. The past shows us that hip hop has transformed and evolved; it must not end and it must not lose its momentum. Works Cited Chang, Jeff. Total Chaos: The Art and Aesthetics of Hip-Hop. New York: BasicCivitas, 2006. Print.Farley, Christopher J. “Rapper Nas Says Maybe Hip Hop Isn't Dead After All.” Wall Street Journal, May 20, 2010. Web.Merwin, Scott. "From Kool Herc to 50 Cent, the history of rap - so far." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, February 15, 2004. Web.Nas. 2006. “Hip Hop Is Dead.” Hip hop is dead. Def Jam Recordings.Nas. 2006. “Hope”. Hip hop is dead. Def Jam Recordings.Rose, Tricia. The Hip Hop Wars: What we talk about when we talk about hip hop and why it matters. New York: BasicCivitas, 2008. Print.Williams, Saul. 2004. “Telegram”. Saul Williams. Fader record label.